Sucker-rod hanger



may E, 19270 G. E. FRITTS SUCKER ROD HANGER Filed M y 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 10,1927. I 1,627,733

G. E: FRITTS SUCKER ROD HANGER Filed May 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 650m: 5 fk/TT);

Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. FRITTS, OF TAFT, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO F. A. KEE-FOVER AND DAISY KEEFOVER.

SUCKER-BOD HANGER.

Application filed May 2,

This invention relates to oil well equipment and relates more particularly to a sucker rod hanger by which thesucker rods may he hung when they have been removed from the well.

In the oil well industry, oil is pumped from the wells by means of a pump plunger, which is reciprocated within a pump barrel at the bottom of the well. The plunger is reciprocated by means of mechanism located at the top of the well through a sucker rod string connected therebctween. It is sometimes necessary to remove the string of sucker rod in order to repair or replace parts of the pump plunger or barrel, the sucker rods being uncoupled as they are reinoved from the Well. If these rods are to he stood in the ccrner of the derrick. they must be uncoupled at each joint because of the flexibility of the rods.

Itis an object of the invention to provide a sucker rod hanger which will make it possible for the sucker rods to hang in lengths composed of a number of sucker rods, thereby eliminating the necessity of uncoupling the rods at each joint.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hanger which will be very easy to manipulate.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a hanger which will engage the upper rod of a stand of sucker rods at a point below the upper end thereof. This feature enables the transfer of the sucker rod stands from the elevator to the hanger and from the hanger to the elevator to be accomplished with increased facility.

The sucker rods are drawn from or lowered into the well by means of an elevator which is placed around the sucker rod just below a shoulder formed at its upper end. By providing a hanger member, which will grip the shank of the rod, a sufficient space at the top end of the sucker rod may be left to allow the removal or engagement of the elevator beneath the head formed at the end of the sucker rod. 7

The improved hanger member I use consists of a head portion in which a vertical channel is formed. Pivotally attached to this head is a lever having an eccentric cam at the end adjacent to the channel in the block or head portion. Attachedtothe outer end of-the lever member is a flexible cable which has its upper end tied to a support- 1923. Serial No. 636,107.

ing bar mountedin one corner of the derrick.

To this supporting bar is attached a multiplicity of similar cables having these clamps at the lower end thereof; When it is desired to hang a length of sucker rods, the clamp is placed on the upper rod just below the elevator so that the rod will extend.

fixed to the clamp member the eccentric cam will be made to grip the rod because of leverage placed thereon by the lever member. The elevator may then be removed and the rod swung-into the corner of the derrick, where it may remain until again placed in the well.

7 Further objects of the invention and additional advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings, illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of one corner of a derrick showing a form of my invention and illustrating certain features thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the cable support-' ing bar, showing how it may be clamped to the corner member of the derrick.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing how the cable may be conveniently attached to the supporting bar.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a preferred form of clamp whlch may be employed in the practice of my invention.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the clamp shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of-an alternative form of clamp which may be used.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the clamp shown in Fig. 6.

As shown in Fig. 1, 11 represents a corner of a derrick, of which I show only enough to illustrate the utility of my invention. The derrick is constructed in the usual which are for and diagonals 15. Clamped to the corner .manner, having cornermembers 12, girts 14,

member 12 by means of a U bolt 17 and nuts 18, as shown in Fig. 2, is a supporting bar 19. To this bar 19 is attached a number of cables 20, which may be tied to the support ing bar 19 by means of a bowline knot 21 as shown in Fig. 3. Attached to the lower end of each cable is a clamp member 25. It

will be understood that any number. of cables having clamps fastened thereto may be used. corresponding to the number of sucker rod stands to be held.

I The clamp 25, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, provides a head portion 26, having a channel 28 formed therein through which the sucker rod 29 extends. Pivotally mounted on the head 26 by means of a pin 30 is a lever 32. ,That portion 33 of the member 32 which is adjacent; to the channel 28 is of eccentric cam formation as shown, and the opposite end 34- oi the member 32 has a cable member 20 tied thereto by means of a bow-' lino knot 35. When the lever 32 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the cam portion 33 is in gripping position relative to the member 20. and when the lever assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines 37 of this figure. the cam portion 33 is disposed away from the rod 28 in a nongripping position, as shown.

. gain referring to Fig. .1, my invention may be practiced in the following manner: Let it be supposed that the strings of sucker rods 29 supported by the hangers are to be installed in the well. A. workman standing on the platform 40 swings one of the stands 29 from its position in the corner of the derrick into a position engaging the slot 41 of the retaining member 42 which is secured to the platform 40. The elevator (not shown) may then be placed just below the shoulder 41 of the rod 29. The weight of the sucker rods may then be changed from the cable 20 to the elevator by raising the elevator. As shown in Fig. 5, the lever 32 may then be swung from its position in full lines to the position indicated by the dotted lines 37v and the clamp easily removedfrom the sucker rods. After removing the clamp 25 the stand is then screwed to the pump plunger, or to the stand just below, and lowered into the well. The rods may be removed from the well by reversing the operations just described.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, another type of clamp which may be employed with my invention consists of a casting or forging 50, having a head portion 51 from which extends an arm A. cable may be tied to the end 523. of the arm 52 as shown. In the head 5L is a diagonal slot. 55, which is enlarged at its inner end as shown,- so that the corners 5G and 57 thereof willengage and frict-ior ally grip the rod 58 and thereby retain it in suspension. It will be seen that the leverage ratio between the height of the slot and the length of the arm provides an ample support lug grip upon the shank of the sucker rod to prevent any slippage.

It will readily be perceived that by cmploying my invention. not only is time and labor saved by avoiding the necessity of uncoupling each sucker rod from the other, but by its use the rods may be gripped below the head in such a manner that the sucker rod elevator may be readily engaged and dis engaged.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sucker rod hanger, the combination of: a cross bar secured to the derrick structure at an elevated point; a plurality of suspension members secured at their upper ends to the cross bar; clamp member's secured to the lower ends of said suspension members for gripping stands of sucker rods; a platform situated adjacent to the lower ends of said suspension member; and an inwardly projecting arm having a rest at the inner end thereof for receiving the shank of a sucker rod While the elevator is being adjusted thereupon.

2. In a sucker rod hanger, the combination of: a cross bar secured to the derrick structure at an elevated point; a plurality of freelv swingable suspension members secured at their upper ends to the cross bar; clamp members secured to the lower ends of said suspension members for gripping stands of sucker rods; :1 platform situated adjacent to the lower ends of said suspension members: and an inwardly projecting arm having a rest at the inner end thereof for receiving the shank of a sucker rod while the elevator is being adjusted thereu on. 

